Does music soothe the soul? Evaluating the impact of a music education programme in Medellin, Colombia

Abstract

Numerous studies have borne out the effects of cultural and music education on individuals’ wellbeing, considering music as a mainly systematic practice or skill or as established educational supply. However, few studies assess the impact of music programmes designed to achieve specific goals, and where music is considered as a tool for social change. As a case study, we take the Medellin Music School Network (Colombia), whose education programme for music initiation has been running for 23 years. Our aim is to evaluate the economic and social impact generated by participating in this programme. We use a quasi-experimental propensity score matching technique as the evaluation method. Results show that the programme significantly reduces the probability of participants’ becoming involved in conflict, added to which they perceive a better quality of life. Students achieve better academic performance and intensify cultural consumption and participation in artistic activities. Institutional efficacy is reflected through beneficiaries expressing a positive and significant willingness to pay in order to maintain the programme. The work also aims to evidence the usefulness of the methodology for evaluating the impact of cultural policies, particularly in developing areas.